Coronation Street actor Tony Hirst has revealed that he thinks his character Paul Kershaw genuinely loves Eileen Grimshaw.

The 45-year-old's alter ego was recently tested by the sudden death of wife Lesley ,who had been suffering with dementia.

However, Hirst believes that Eileen (Sue Cleaver) is "the only good thing" in Paul's life now, telling Inside Soap: "He's more than aware that he's put her through the mill over and over again, and he doesn't want to do that any more. He's uncomfortable asking anything of her, but he knows he has to try."

Hirst added: "That's one of the things Paul loves about Eileen, that she's direct and won't take any nonsense from anyone.

"She's helped him to stop pussy-footing around, and he has a real sense of clarity about the situation now."

Eileen, who was out of her house when Paul's wife died, causes bad feeling when she attends Lesley's funeral next week.